The number of class-action lawsuits claiming securities fraud committed by life sciences companies climbed again last year, continuing a trend in which drug and device makers remain juicy targets for investors, according to a new analysis.

A total of 88 class action securities lawsuits were filed against life sciences companies in 2017, a 31 percent rise from the 67 lawsuits filed the year before and a 225 percent increase from 27 such lawsuits filed in 2012, according to the Dechert law firm, which conducted the latest analysis.

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